An Evening Occasion: Chapter Four

Cursed Love: You never find love where you expect

Serilda looked at herself in the mirror once again, wondering if the silver dress was too much. Looking back at the bed where an ornate blue dress sat. Her assistant Christina walked back in, glancing at Serilda. “If you think it’s too much, might I make a suggestion?” She said putting down the jewelry boxes she was carrying on the table and walking towards her. “Please,” Serilda said with a small smile.

“Louie just sent over this dress. It’s supposed to be for the corporate gala in two weeks, but I think it might be better suited for the engagement. In fact, I think he might have designed it with that in mind.” She said, walking over to her closet and pulling out a short dress, with a gold bodice decorated with pale metal lilacs that gave the dress an ethereal look, the skirt was a pale blue the edges white of double-layered chiffon fabric. “It’s a fairytale dress,” Serilda said her eyes full of tears. She thought about her mother who had always reminded her of a fairy princess with the way she had held herself. She smiled and touched the dress. “Would you like to try on the dress?” Christina asked softly, Serilda nodded. She put on the dress, running a hand along the vine's flowers that went all the way down to the skirt.

“You don’t think people will think it’s too much?” She asked with a frown glancing back at Christina who smiled in response. “It’s not about the people. It’s the groom that’s most important.” Christina said. Serilda smiled softly looking at the dress. “It is short.” She said moving her hips slightly watching as the skirt moved with her. “Why not show off your best feature?” Christina said.

“My legs,” Serilda said dryly. Christina snorted. “Your feminine charm. You need to let him not regret his choice.” She said. Serilda sighed. “But what about the shoes?” she asked, watching her assistant scramble back into the closet like she knew she would. Serilda smiled down at the dress, her already pink curved nails running against the design.

It was a fairytale dress, with a modern twist. Everyone would be expecting the bride to be, to wear some lavish long tapered dress. But that had never really been her style. She wanted Nadir to see who he was marrying wasn’t some rich heiress who had the world at her fingertips, but someone he could be with, eventually fall in love with. She hoped she would be enough for Nadir who had given up so much already losing the girl he loved to an engagement he had never wanted. An engagement that had been all her fault.

“My beautiful granddaughter. I had hoped you would choose that dress.” Her grandmother said as she walked into the room. “You don’t think it’s too simple?” she asked glancing at her grandmother, who beamed back at her. “Nothing you wear could ever be too simple. There will be time for extravagance. It’s a whole wedding that will be happening.” Grandmother Ryn said.

“Come. There is something I wish you to have.” Serilda’s Grandmother was a tall imposing woman with long legs that was constantly covered in practical pantsuits. Regina Ryn had been given every opportunity when she was younger, and she had always chosen a life of duty, in the family business over love. She had been the happiest when Eleanor Reign had proposed marriage.

She had known how taken her daughter had been on her first meeting with Nadir Reign. She knew they were a good match. With this in mind, she pulled one of the Jewelry boxes towards her. She gestured for Serilda to join her on the bed which she did with a smile. She opened the box to show her the lily necklace that Serilda had longed to have for years. “Mother’s necklace?” she asked gently touching the petals of the necklace.

“So you will have a piece of her with you. I know that this will be hard without both of your parents. But they would’ve loved to see you as a bride.” Regina said with a soft smile. “You have your father’s ring, with you and now you will have this to wear. A piece of them both to smile upon your groom to be.” She said, with a smile. Serilda smiled and hugged her grandmother. “Thank you, I love you very much.” She said, tears swimming in her eyes.

She hoped that her parents would approve of the woman she was today. Even if she was about to marry a man who she knew didn’t love her. Not everyone was lucky enough to find a love like her parents. She had hoped that one day she might find that. Now she had to hope that Nadir would keep the promise he made and never leave her. Though hard that might be.

“I’m going to get out of this dress,” Serilda said with a smile, walking back to the closet just narrowly missing getting stabbed by one of the heels her assistant was brought to her. “I have silver heels and I have pink heels.” She said. Serilda laughed. “I think I will let my grandmother choose.” She said, as she unzipped the dress and pulled on the long sweater dress that she was wearing before.

She played with the ring she had on her index finger as she sat in the settee. “Dad. I miss you so much, on days like today.” She said softly. Her father Gerald Ryn had been an imposing man. She had long waited for the day he would walk her down the aisle while giving the groom a stern look, but he had not lived that long. So heartbroken about the death of his wife three years earlier.

Leaving Serilda to fend for her own at sixteen. She had never known passionate love. Any person who had come close to her had always had some scheme or the other for her money. Would she ever find true love? Or was she doomed to forever be in the shadow of her parents, everlasting love?

Tuxedo shop

This was Abraham’s greatest fear. To be surrounded by suits. He narrowed his eyes as he looked through the different suits, all in shades of black. He had many suits, as he always wore a suit to work, but he didn’t feel like showing up to the Reign estate in a normal work suit. He glanced away from the sea of black his eyes going back to a sedate blue number that had caught his eye when he had first walked into the store. He signed, he’d never really been one to wear black. He lifted it out from the rack and went toward the dressing room. Taking off the suit he was currently wearing and putting on the blue suit that fit like a glove. He stepped outside, looking at himself in the mirror. He hadn’t put on a tie, and he found he quite liked it without one. He sighed. Things were never easy, he wondered if he should wear a tie, and found himself getting frustrated and feeling like a girl getting ready for prom. He looked back at the blue with a sudden realization.

“Natalie’s always liked blue on you,” Nadir said from behind him. Abraham whirled around surprised to come face to face with the last person he had expected to see. He smiled slightly. “You are also wearing blue.” Abraham pointed out. Nadir laughed, “You look out of sorts.” Nadir said, straightening the collar of his shirt.

“Yes. Well.” Abraham said giving Nadir a rue look. “You on the other hand look as immaculate as always.” He said with a sigh. Nadir gave him a look. “You were the last person I expected to see here,” Nadir said. “I know we haven’t seen each other in a while. “Life happens. I didn’t want to force myself on Natalie if she didn’t want to see me.” Abraham said sadly. “Although I have no idea what she’s going to say when I show up on Friday.” He said ruefully. Nadir froze his heart beating fast. “You’re coming to the engagement party?” He asked in a hushed tone.

“As is Cate.” Abraham said quietly. “Your grandmother invited her.” He said watching as Nadir turned red, and cursed pulling off his ivory tie forcefully. “She doesn’t have to come!” Nadir said. “You and I both know that she does,” Abraham said, crossing his arms and looking at Nadir who collapsed on one of the plush settees. His head in his hands. “I am sorry, but you know that if she doesn’t come, it will be worse for the both of you,” Abraham said.

“She didn’t want to see me,” Nadir said softly. He was falling apart, hearing that Cate would be there to watch him get engaged to someone else. “Why would she do this?” He said desperately. “Eleanor clearly wants to prove a point. Maybe make sure that there isn’t any unfinished business between the two of you.” Abraham said. He bent down and picked up the ivory tie. “This is a unique choice,” Abraham said. “Natalie told me to either wear ivory or gold. She has a theme for the engagement.” Nadir said with a sigh. Abraham smiled. “Of course she does.” He said putting a hand in his pocket and glancing back at the mirror. “Can I make a suggestion?” Nadir asked.

“Sure,” Abraham said looking back at Nadir who was looking up at him. “Don’t wear a white shirt.” He said getting up and moving towards the button-up shirts pulling out a darker blue material that shone in the light. “No tie. Just the shirt.” Nadir said handing it to him with his arms crossed. Abraham smiled. “Did you ever think it would come to this?” Abraham asked. “Both of us trying to decide suits for your engagement party?” He asked. Nadir tensed. “Yes, I did. But in that scenario, I was getting engaged to your cousin.” Nadir said. Both men sighed at the thought. So many dreams they had. So much they had lost to the machinations of Nadir’s grandmother.

“You will be a good husband. Just like you had been a perfect boyfriend. And a dutiful brother. You are a good man, Nadir Reign. There will be time for sadness, but not on your engagement day.” Abraham said. Nadir looked at him doubtfully. “How can you say that after everything that’s happened?” he asked. “Because everything that has happened has not been your fault. Your grandmother made a decision about the company. About two companies. No one is at fault. Even Cate knows that.” Abraham said.

“Maybe it’s a good thing, you’ll be there. You’ve been one of my closest friends. I’ve missed you, but I didn’t want to push.” Nadir said quietly. “And now I wish I had.” He said. “You will always have me, and Cate. We were all friends first, weren’t we? And so friends we shall remain.”

“I doubt that’s the reason why Grandmother saw fit to invite you both,” Nadir said. “No one besides Eleanor herself knows why she does the things she does. Not even god.” Abraham said, taking the shirt and going back to the change room.

After he changed out of the suit he went over to the cash where Nadir was already pulling out a black corporate card for his purchases. He glanced over at Abraham with a smirk. “Do you have enough money for that?” he asked nodding at the suit. Abraham scoffed. “I might not be on the Reign level of luxury but I work enough to allow some lavish purchases.” He said narrowing his eyes.

Nadir laughed. “Want to grab a coffee?” He asked. “I wish I could, but I have to get back to the office. I’m trying to finish this last assignment before Friday.” Abraham said. “I have a feeling that I’m going to need a day to recover after the party.” He said. Nadir waved goodbye and walked out of the store feeling lighter than he had in days. Abraham had that effect on people.